Saddle seat



April 26, 1938.

H, M. PRYALE ET AL 2,115,177

SADDLE SEAT Filed Sept. 16, 1935 IVI l|| Il INVENToRs HARRY M.PRYALE SAMUEL C. CLARK BY DON R-COTTERMAN ATTO RN EYS Patented Apr. 26, 1938 PATENT oFricE 'SADDLE SEAT Y Harry kMi. :Pryale, Samuel C; Clark,A and Don E.; .5 :Co-tterman, Pontiacr,-Mich. Y l

" A'miliardari"sptmber 16,1935, seri-.1,1 No. 40,816

- 6 Claims.

This invention relates generally to seats, and refersmore particularly togsaddle seats of the type employed'in connection with bicycles, tricycles, motorcycles and the like., o

l One of the principal objects of ythis invention sto simplify, render more etcient, and improve generally saddles of the above character ,by providing an improved spring suspension vsystem embodying springs highly effective; in not only yieldably sustaining .the load on the saddle seat, but also in cushioning the reaction of the springs or rebound elfect of thelatter. Y f

Another advantageous feature of this invention resides in the provision of a 4saddle suspension system comprising a truss having a reach portion connected to the forward end of the pommel of the saddle, and having a transverse portion at the rear end dividing the vertical suspension springs on the arms of the yoke into upper and lower sections, in such a manner that the lower zo sections of the springs not only operate through the yoke to effectively cushion the rebound action of the system, but also cooperate with the upper sections vof the springs to yieldablysustain the Vweight on the saddle seat. ,-.r l s Y A further object of the present inventionresides `in the novel manner in which the extremities of the transverse `portion of the truss arepermanently secured to the arms of the yoke between the sections of the springsV forrvertical sliding movement on the arms of the yoke. s g

In addition to the foregoing, the present invention contemplates a suspension system for saddle seats capable of being inexpensively manufactured, assembled and installed'. The above, as well as other objects will oe made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the. accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, with certain parts broken away, oi a saddle equipped with a suspension system constructed in accordance with this invention; o l

Figure 2 is a rear elevational View, with certain parts broken away, of the construction shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional View takensubstantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2. Y

Referring now more in detail to the several iigures of the drawing, it will be noted that the reference character I0 designates a saddle assembly comprising a seat I I and a suspension system I2. The seat II may be of any desired construction, but in the present instance, is shown as molded 55 from rubber .or from a material containing rub- Vand .having a forwardly extending reach portion ing a base portion I5 secured to the underside of the `saddle seat adjacent the rearend thereof by vthe tongues ISYvstruck out from the metal'inse'rt yor plate I3 and bent alternately in. opposite di.

rections around the base portion I5 of the yoke. The arms I'I of the `yoke extend downwardlyrin a vertical direction from Opposite ends ofthe yoke through the suspension springs I8, and the lower ends of the arms are grooved to providefor rotatably securing the suspension springs thereto.

The forward portion of the saddle seat is supported byV means of a truss I9 also operableto hold the arms of the yoke and associated suspension springs in substantially vertical position zzo with respect to the seat. As shown particularly in Figure 3, the truss I9 is substantially T,s`hap'e d in elevation having a transverse portion atthe rear end for attachment tothe Varms of theyoke,

2| hingedly connected to the pommel of the saddle by a tongue 22 struck out from the platev I3 and bent through an aperture provided inthe forward end of the reach. o

The extremities of the transverse portion 20 of the trussextend between adjacent convolutions fof the suspension springs in such a manner as to divide the latter into upper and` lowersections 23 and 24 respectively. Although the sec- 35 tions are integral, nevertheless, the upper sections 23 are in the form of conical compressionv members having the convolutions thereof spaced from each other a greater distance than the convolutions of the lower sections 24. On the other o hand, the convolutions of the lower sections 24 of the suspension springs are'preferably cylindrical, and these sections may be considered tension members.

Due to the fact that the extremities ofthe transverse portion 20 of the truss are interposed between the aforesaid sections of the suspension springs in the manner shown in Figure 2, both of the sections of the springs will cooperate with one another to yieldably sustain the load on the l saddle seat, and the lower sections 24 will serve to dampen the reaction or rebound of the springs;

As previously stated, one of the objects of the inventionV resides in the novel means in which the truss is slidablysecured Vto the arms I'Iof 5p l #285 l slots tension Ythe arms I1 of the yoke by urging the suspension springs.y In detail, the extremities of the transverse portionV of the yoke extending `between the convolutions of the suspension springs are formed with substantially L-shaped slots 25 therein having the leg portions 26, thereof extending rearwardly from the forward edge of the transverse portion of the truss to the angular leg portions 21 thereof and are inclinedV inwardly toward the median center line of the saddle unit to provide a cam face 28. The angular leg portions 21 extend outwardly from the rear ends of the portions 26 and are of suflicient widthto receive the arms I1 of the yoke. The locations of the slotsV are-predetermined so that in the Vassembled relation of the truss the arms are held in the portions 21 of the slot under a tension su'icient to hold the parts in assembled relationship, but at the same time permitting relativelyV free sliding movement of the rear end of the truss axially of the arms. In

addition, the cam surfaces 28 of the slots are so located as tocam the armsr I1 of the yoke into engagementl with the portions 21 ofthe Vvslots upon assembling the truss with the arms byl displacement off the truss forwardly relative to the arms.` In other words, when it is desired Vto assemble the truss with the yoke, theextremities of vthe transverse portion 20 are inserted between the desired 'convolutions of the suspension springs with the arms of the yoke in registra-k tion withz'the forward ends of the portions 28 of the slots. As movement of the yoke in a for- Ward direction relative to the arms I1 ofthe yoke is continuedthecam surfaces 28 of the the same inwardly until they approach the leg portions 21 of the slots, and since the latter leg portions extend outwardly from the leg portions V26,' it necessarily follows that the arms I1 will snap intoengagement with the leg portions 21 Vof the slots as the same approach their normal position.V Attention may also be called'to the fact that the extremities of the transverse portion 20 ofthe truss I9 are provided with upstanding anges Vil) concentrically arranged with respe'ct tothe lowermost convolutions of the upper sections 23 of the suspension springs and engageable with these convolutions throughout a substantial portionof their length to positively hold the suspension springs again-st lateral displacement. From the above, it will be seen that the connection of the truss with the arms Valso permits the springs to rotate relative to the truss and arms. This is desirable in that it permits adjusting the springs to locate a selected nurnber of the convolutions above and below the truss.

Thus from the foregoing, it will be observed that we have provided a saddle seat suspension system embodying a relatively few number of simple parts capable of being expediently manufactured and assembled.v It will, also, be observed that although springs of one-piece construction are employed in the suspension system, nevertheless, the arrangement is such as to not only effectively yieldably sustain the weight on the saddle seat, but to also dampen the reactions or rebound of the springs. In addition, it will be apparent that the action referred to in the preceding sentence is accomplished through themedium of a relatively simple truss capable of being readily inserted between the desired convolutions of the suspension springs, and also capable of being expediently secured in the assembly without the use of fastener elements.

What Vwe claim as our invention is:

1. A saddle unit having a seat and a Aspring,

a member extending transversely of the springs having portions located between adjacent convolutions of the springs dividing each of the latter into two sections and having a snap-on connection with the rods permitting sliding movement of I said portions in opposite directions axially of the rods against the action of the spring sections, and means connecting the member to the forward end of the seat.

2. A saddleu-nit having a seatand a spring suspension system" supporting the seat comprising, rods depending from the rear end portion of the seat, a spring Vsurrounding each of the rods and fixed to the'latter at the lower ends thereof, a member extending transverselyof4 the springs having portionslocated betweenadjacent convolutions of the springs dividing each ofthev latter into two sections, yeach of the aforesaid 25 portions of said member provided with an angular slot of' suflicient width .tof 'receive one `of the rods, one of `the legv portions of the slot being Y arranged to spring the rod from its normalposi'-v tion during the passage of the same `therethrough and the other of the legs extendingin a direction to receive the rod as the latter tends v'to assume its4 normal position, and means connecting the;

member to theforward end portionof the seat.

3. A saddle unit having a seat and a spring suspension system. supporting the seat comprising,

rods depending from the rear end portion of the seat, a spring surrounding each of the rods and fixed to the latter at the lower ends thereof for rotation relative thereto, a member extending transversely of the springs having portions'located between adjacent convolutions of the springs dividing each of the latter into two sec- 1 tions andghaving a snap-on connection with ythe rods permitting sliding movement of thek aforesaid portions in opposite directions'axially' of the rods and alsopermitting rotationof the springsv` to locate a selected number of the convolutions thereof above and below said member.

4. A saddle unit having a seat and a spring n suspension system supporting the lseat comprising, rods depending from the rear end portion of the* seat, a spring surroundingeach of the' rodsand fixed to the latter at'the lower ends thereof, aV

member extending transversely of the springs having portions located between adjacent convolutions of the'springsto divide each of the latterV into two sections, each ofthe aforesaid portions provided with an angular slot of sufficient width to receive the rods, one'leg of the slots extending in a direction to tension the rods as the latter pass therethrough and the other legs of the slots extending at an angle to the legs aforesaid in a i direction to receive the rodswhen the latter tend to assume their normal positions.

5. A saddle unit having a seat and a' spring member extending transverselyof the springs having portions located between adjacentconvo'- lutions of the springs to divide each of the latter jinto two sections and having a connection with the rods permitting sliding movement thereof in opposite directions axially of the rods, saidconnections comprising an angular slot in each of the aforesaid portions of the member of sufficient Width to receive the rods, one leg portion of the slots extending in a direction to tension the rods as the latter pass through the same and the other leg portions extending at an angle to the leg portions aforesaid in a direction to receive the rods when the latter tend to assume their normal positions, and means on said member engageable with convolutions of the springs to prevent lateral shifting movement of the Vsprings relative to the member.

6. A saddle seat unit having a seat and a spring suspension system supporting the seat comprising, rods depending from the rear end portion of the seat, a spring surrounding each of the rods and Xed to the latter at the upper ends thereof, a member extending transversely of the springs and having opposite end portions insertable between adjacent oonvolutions of the springs intermediate the ends of the latter, said end portions also having provision for snap-on engagement With the rods extending axially through said springs.

HARRY M. PRYALE.

SAMUEL C. CLARK.

DON R. CO'ITERMAN. 

